Puerto Rico: The most compelling tax residency option for American Entrepreneurs and Investors

Flag Theory Weekly Letter – Thursday May 24th, 2018

Bankruptcy, a decade of recession, and the recent devastation caused by hurricanes María and Irma, which caused severe destruction of infrastructure and also destroyed 80% of the island’s crops has left this unincorporated territory of the US in the middle of a serious economic crisis.

Puerto Rico desperately needs to attract investors and entrepreneurs to boost its competitiveness and stimulate labor growth and economic activity in general.

But the government has made a smart move to reverse this situation by launching a program of tax incentives for new tax residents and incoming service companies. This is where it gets interesting, especially for American entrepreneurs and investors.

Citizenship-based Taxation

​The United States, together with Eritrea, are the only countries in the world that tax its citizens no matter their current country of residence.

In general, to avoid this citizenship-based taxation, Americans only have a few options:​

Settle abroad and apply for the FEIE, which consists of an exemption of approximately $104,100 of annual salary income (not investment income/capital gains). This amount can be increased if they file jointly with their spouses or include housing benefits.

Give up American citizenship and pay a heavy exit tax if they are a ‘covered expatriate’.

Move to Puerto Rico

​Puerto Rico may be the best way for Americans to legally minimize a heavy worldwide tax obligation while maintaining US citizenship.​Although it is a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico has its own tax system and its residents are not subject to federal taxes.

This is because Section 933 of the US Tax Code excludes Puerto Rico-source income from the US tax.

By moving to Puerto Rico Americans can run their business or manage their international investments in a much more favorable tax climate.

A great opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors

If you are an investor and you move to Puerto Rico, under Act 22, you may enjoy a zero tax rate on certain interest, dividends and capital gains income. This zero tax rate applies only to income and profits derived from investments made after becoming a resident.Income and profits accrued before the residency was established, but that have not yet been taxed, may be subject to the normal 10% capital gains tax. For investments sold after 10 years, but before the end of 2035, the tax rate drops to 5%.

​If you are a stock trader, venture capitalist, cryptocurrency investor, etc. you may eliminate taxes completely.

​If you are an entrepreneur with a service-oriented online business, under Act 20, you may move to and incorporate in Puerto Rico and pay a 4% corporate tax rate on qualifying export services income or a 3% CIT when more than 90% of the eligible business’s gross income is derived from export services.

​So you may set up your international business in Puerto Rico, pay yourself some salary taxed at Puerto Rico’s standard income tax rate, pay 4% corporate income tax and get the dividends tax-free.

These tax advantages are especially attractive for crypto and blockchain entrepreneurs and investors.

​Given its global scope, several renowned crypto companies are moving to the island, which may become a blockchain hub. The government of Puerto Rico has already expressed its intention to attract this industry and has already created an advisory council on this matter.

You have to move

To qualify for the exemptions, you must become a bona-fide resident of Puerto Rico. This implies residing on the island for more than 183 days per year, filling out IRS forms, such as form 8898 and applying for a tax exemption decree from the Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico.

​The tax exemption decree will provide details of the tax treatment and shall be considered a contract between you, as a Resident Individual Investor, and the Puerto Rican government. Once granted, the tax-exemption will be valid until 2035.

​But the most important fact is that you really have to move there. It must be seen as a permanent movement. Your physical residence must be Puerto Rico. If you try to cheat the IRS, they can and will catch you.

​Also, it may not be a bad idea to move to Puerto Rico. You will enjoy a tropical climate with average temperatures of 28 ° C throughout the year with very little seasonal change, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and good food.

​In addition there is a large expatriate and American community, so you can move without too many language barriers.

Although learning un poquito de españolnever hurts.

We can help you

If you are considering moving yourself and your business to Puerto Rico and benefit from the aforementioned tax incentives, contact us and our in-house CPA will assess your personal and business situation to determine the feasibility of this option according to your specific circumstances, handle all paperwork and guide you through each step of the process.

Would you like to receive the Flag Theory Weekly Letter in your email?

NOTICE: The contents of this article are not to be considered as a legal opinion or tax advice and should not be relied upon as such. Far Horizon Capital Inc does not hold itself out as a legal or tax advisor. If you wish to receive a legal opinion or tax advice on the matter(s) in this article please contact our offices and we will refer you to an appropriate legal practitioner. Use of our website FlagTheory.com is subject to our terms and conditions.